Freedom.

— July 4th is a unique kind of holiday. For many it represent the culmination of the many sacrifices made towards the grand ideas of freedom that stands as the bedrock of the American success store. For some it’s an emblematic date of the generations of  missteps that have been at the behest of the nation since 

When I think back to photographing elements of this years 4th of July … the one thing that really took me by surprise was the amount of joy I came across in people whom aren’t traditional representations of that holiday. In both times and in latter years it almost feels as though this day is painted with this broad swath of patriotism that’s only representative of a mostly white middle class gaze. 

But I think the regardless of any political affiliations or direct nationalistic allegiances. I believe it’s a holiday that’s symbolic of imbued possibilities. This perception of limitless bounds. It’s a holiday that’s quintessentially the human story.

And no matter your background. Be it Midwestern White, Southern Black, Mexican, Muslim, First generation Salvadoran, Italian…I think the notions of hope is something everyone has the capacity to get behind.